Cork-extractor



(No Model.)

J. M. BARNES. CORK EXTRAGTOR.

Patented Au 16,1892.

ls EYERs co, mo'ro-u'mo, WASHINGTON, o. c.

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. BARNES, OF NORTH ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS.

CORK-EXTRACTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,093, dated August16, 1892.

Application filed April 9, 1892. Serial No. 428,495. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. BARNES, acitizen of the United States,residing at North Adams, in the county of Berkshire and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inCork-Extractors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices employed in extractingcorks from bottles, and especially from empty ale, beer, wine, and otherbottles.

The object of my invention is to so organize a device of this characteras to enable the hooked prongs by which the cork is seized and withdrawnto expand or open to the maximum limits of the interior of the bottleand.

to preserve such position while moving from end to end of said interior,or practically so, in contradistinction to constructions heretoforeknown, in which the said expansion is more limited and is confined tothe lower portion of the bottle or to the part most remote from theneck. To accomplish this object the invention consists in the severalnovel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafterfully explained, and then particularly pointed out and defined in theclaim following this specification.

To enable others to understand and to make, construct, and use my saidinvention, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, showing my invention, in whichFigure 1 is a sectional elevation showing my invention. Fig. 2 is afront end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail section, upon anenlarged scale, showing the guide for the bottie-neck and extractor andthe manner of engaging the cork. Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of theextractor-rod and hooked prongs, the scale being enlarged. Fig. 5 is adetail top plan view of the same on a smaller scale.

The reference-numeral 1 in said drawings indicates abase-plate, fromwhich rises a frame or stand 2, suitably braced and having usually ahorizontal arm or support 3. Upon the end of this arm is mounted adouble conoidal guide consisting of two oppositely -turned funnels 4,connected by a short tubular section 5, the internal diameter of whichis substantially equal to that of the necks of the bottles upon whichthe extractor is to operate. The guide is mounted in the end of the arm3 by inserting the tubular section in a seat in said arm, as shown inFig. 3, the funnels ly- J ing above and below the same and flaring inopposite directions.

Upon the stand 2 is fulcrumed a lever. 6, to which is pivotallyconnected, between its ends, a rigid rod 7, the point of attachmentbeing such that the end of the rod may enter the guide and pass into theneck of the bottle by simply raising the lever 6.

Upon the reduced end 8 of the rod 7 is formed a thread, and a sleeve 9is screwed thereon, the length of such sleeve being such as to extendabove the threaded part 8 and surround a further portion of said rodrising above the threaded part and being dressed off to form atriangular part 10, the fiat faces of which are of equal width. Withinthe spaces between the sleeve and the flat faces referred to areinserted the ends of the elastic arms 12, which are three in number,bent to diverge at equal intervals and having hooks 13 at their ends.The latter normally are spread as far as the maximum diameter of thebottle will allow. The length of these arms is less than the interiorlength of the bottle between the bottom and the pointwhere the shouldercontracts to form the neck. The lower extremities of the elastic arms 12are rigidly secured to the rigid rod 7, and by adjusting thescrew-threaded sleeve 9 on the screw-threaded part 8 of the rod thedivergence of the elastic arms can be varied, while such sleevestrengthens the parts by bracing the arms where they join the rod. Ametallic cushion is formed upon the fulcrum-bean ing 14. for the end ofthe lever in order that it may not drop too far by gravity and thusentirely remove the elastic arms 12 from the Vicinity of the lowerfunnel-guide.

The operation is as follows: Taking the empty bottle in one hand theoperator places its mouth in the upper funnel 40f the guide, and at orabout the same time he raises the lever 6, thereby carrying the hookedends 13 of the elastic arms 12 into the lower funnel 4:, by which theyare compressed as they pass upward until they enter the bottle-neck andpass the shoulder at the base of the neck. Before the end of the rod 7passes the shoulder the elastic arms will have full expansion and willlie against the inner surface of the bottle. Being three in number andat about regular intervals, the cork will pass within or between saidarms in the position shown in Fig. 3, it being practically impossiblethat the cork should be seized by the two ends or be caused to assume aposition in which it cannot be removed through the neck of the bottle.If, on the other hand, I attach the elastic arms at a point upon or verynear the lever 6, the operation will not be the same as that described,

since the point at which divergence takes place cannot pass the shoulderof the bottle, which will therefore contract these arms and preventtheir having at any time an expansion equal to the interior diameter ofthe bottle. Moreover, the use of two arms only causes a liability thatthe corks will be caught by the ends and ,will lie transverse to thecontracted neck.

\Vhat I claim is- The combination, with a base 1, standard 2,overhanging arm 3, double conoidal guide 4:, and lever 6, pivoted to thestandard, of a rigid rod 7, pivoted to the lever, having a screwthreadedupper end 8 and extending through the double conoidal guide into abottle when the lever is raised, a series of diverging elastic hookedarms 12, rigidly secured to the rigid rod, and a screw-threaded sleeve9, adjustable on the threaded part of the rod and circling and movableon the exterior of the elastic arms to press them toward each other whenthe sleeve is adjusted upward, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN M. BARNES. [L. s]

Witnesses:

FRANK D. STAFFORD, FRED F. DOVVLIN.

